Staple remover

Abstract

A staple remover is disclosed for removing surgical staples wherein said surgical staples have side members spaced from each other in a fired position at a staple spacing. The staple remover has a housing, a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, said first and second arms being positioned within said housing so that said first and second ends extend from said housing at a first spacing which is less than said staple spacing, and a widening member for widening said first spacing of said first and second ends to a second spacing wider than said staple spacing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A staple remover for removing surgical staples wherein said surgical staples have side members spaced from each other in a fired position at a staple spacing, said staple remover comprising: a housing; a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, said first and second arms being positioned within said housing so that said first and second ends extend from said housing at a first spacing which is less than said staple spacing; and   means within said housing for laterally spreading said first and second ends so as to widen said first spacing of said first and second ends to a second spacing wider than said staple spacing wherein said means for laterally spreading is substantially coplanar with the first and second arms.   
     
     
       2. A staple remover according to claim 1, wherein said first end and said second end are biased toward said first spacing. 
     
     
       3. A staple remover according to claim 1, wherein said first arm and said second arm are resiliently joined within said housing so as to position said first end and said second end at said first spacing, and wherein said widening means is positionable between a starting position wherein said first end and said second end are at said first spacing and a widening position wherein said first end and said second end are deflected away from each other so as to widen said first spacing to said second spacing. 
     
     
       4. A staple remover according to claim 3, wherein said first end and said second end are biased toward said first spacing. 
     
     
       5. A staple remover according to claim 1, wherein said first and second arms have inwardly facing edges and wherein said widening means is positionable between a starting position wherein said first end and said second end are at said first spacing and a widening position wherein said widening means contacts said edges so as to space said first arm away from said second arm so as to provide said second spacing. 
     
     
       6. A staple remover according to claim 5, wherein said inwardly facing edges have inwardly tapered portions which taper toward each other and wherein said widening means comprises a pusher member slidably mounted in said housing between said first arm and said second arm and slidable between a forward position wherein said pusher member contacts said inwardly tapered portions so as to deflect said first end and said second end to said second spacing, and a rearward position wherein said pusher member is at least partially withdrawn from said inwardly tapered portions. 
     
     
       7. A staple remover according to claim 1, wherein said first end and said second end have prong members extending therefrom at an angle relative to said first arm and said second arm. 
     
     
       8. A staple remover according to claim 7, wherein said prong members have a terminal point and taper toward said terminal point whereby positioning said prong members within a staple is facilitated. 
     
     
       9. A staple remover according to claim 7, wherein said prong members extend at an angle of about 90°. 
     
     
       10. A staple remover according to claim 1, further comprising holding means for holding a staple in position relative to said first end and said second end whereby a staple may be held in position during removal. 
     
     
       11. A staple remover according to claim 10, wherein said holding means comprises a holding arm slidably positioned within said housing and spaced relative to said first and second arms, said holding arm being slidable between a withdrawn position and an extended position wherein said holding arm and said first and second arms define a gap therebetween for receiving and holding a staple. 
     
     
       12. A staple remover according to claim 11, wherein said widening means comprises a pusher member slidably positioned in said housing between said first arm and said second arm, and wherein said holding arm is slidably positioned above said pusher member. 
     
     
       13. A staple remover according to claim 12, further comprising means associated with said housing for limiting relative sliding of said pusher member relative to said holding arm. 
     
     
       14. A staple remover according to claim 13, wherein said limiting means comprises a slot on one of said pushing member and said holding arm, and a projection on the other of said pushing member and said holding arm, said projection extending into said slot so as to define a range of relative sliding of said pusher member relative to said holding arm. 
     
     
       15. A staple remover according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a cartridge adapted for releasable connection to a surgical stapler. 
     
     
       16. A staple remover according to claim 1, wherein said widening means comprises a pusher member slidably positioned in said housing for longitudinal sliding between a widening position wherein said pusher member deflects said first and second arms to said second spacing and a ready position wherein said first and second arms are at said first spacing. 
     
     
       17. A stapler and staple remover system, comprising: a stapler cartridge housing a stapler assembly;   a body member for receiving and operating said stapler cartridge; and   a staple remover cartridge for removing surgical staples having side members spaced from each other in a fired position at a staple spacing, said staple remover cartridge comprising a housing and a staple remover assembly in said housing, said staple remover assembly comprising a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, said first and second arms being positioned within said housing so that said first and second ends extend from said housing at a first spacing which is less than said staple spacing; and   means for widening said first spacing of said first and second ends to a second spacing wider than said staple spacing and including means for operatively and releasably connecting said staple remover cartridge to said body member, whereby said body member is useful in removing staples.   
     
     
       18. A staple remover cartridge for use with a surgical stapler having a releasable stapler attachment and a body member for receiving said stapler attachment, said staple remover cartridge comprising: a housing;   staple removing means for removing surgical staples having side members spaced from each other in a fired position at a staple spacing, said staple removing means being positioned within said housing and comprising a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, said first and second arms being positioned within said housing so that said first and second ends extend from said housing at a first spacing which is less than said staple spacing;   means for widening said first spacing of said first and second ends to a second spacing wider than said staple spacing; and   means for releasably connecting said cartridge to the body member whereby said staple removing means may be operated with the body member.   
     
     
       19. A staple remover for removing surgical staples wherein said surgical staples have side members spaced from each other in a fired position at a staple spacing, said staple remover comprising: a housing, wherein said housing comprises a cartridge adapted for releasable connection to a surgical stapler;   a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, said first and second arms being positioned within said housing so that said first and second ends extend from said housing at a first spacing which is less than said staple spacing; and   means for widening said first spacing of said first and second ends to a second spacing wider than said staple spacing.   
     
     
       20. A staple remover for removing surgical staples wherein said surgical staples have side members spaced from each other in a fired position at a staple spacing, said staple remover comprising: a housing;   a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, said first and second arms being positioned within said housing so that said first and second ends extend from said housing at a first spacing which is less than said staple spacing; and   means for widening said first spacing of said first and second ends to a second spacing wider than said staple spacing, wherein said widening means comprises a pusher member slidably positioned in said housing for longitudinal sliding between a widening position wherein said pusher member deflects said first and second arms to said second spacing and a ready position wherein said first and second arms are at said first spacing.   
     
     
       21. A staple remover for removing surgical staples wherein said surgical staples have side members spaced from each other in a fired position at a staple spacing, said staple remover comprising: a housing;   a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, said first and second arms being positioned within said housing so that said first and second ends extend from said housing at a first spacing which is less than said staple spacing;   means for widening said first spacing of said first and second ends to a second spacing wider than said staple spacing; and   holding means for holding a staple in position relative to said first end and said second end whereby a staple may be held in position during removal, wherein said holding means comprises a holding arm slidably positioned within said housing and spaced relative to said first and second arms, said holding arm being slidable between a withdrawn position and an extended position wherein said holding arm and said first and second arms define a gap therebetween for receiving and holding a staple.